Research Director - AAOS

You're eager to lead innovative projects and make a big impact in medical research. In a dynamic leadership role, you will oversee the Registry Analytics Institute (RAI) for the AAOS Program of Registries, where you'll guide and manage the RAI, pushing our mission and vision forward. You'll oversee and develop the International Prosthesis Library (IPL), and kickstart and manage relationships and projects related to grant-funded research. As a key liaison for registry subcommittees focused on research and publications, you'll provide valuable input to data specifications and act as a second-tier escalation point for registry outcome issues. You bring strong leadership, innovative thinking, great communication skills, a collaborative nature, incredible analytical skills, project management expertise, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for advancing medical research and improving patient outcomes. 

If this sounds like you, please read on!

The Research Director will be responsible for leading and managing the Registry Analytics Institute (RAI) for the AAOS Program of Registries as well as providing product ownership for the International Prosthesis Library (IPL) and for initiating and managing the relationships and projects related to grant funded research projects. Additionally, this role will serve as staff liaison for registry subcommittees focused on research and publications. The Research Director will also provide input to data specifications and act as a second-tier escalation point for issues related to registry outcomes.    

Registry Analytics Institute (RAI) 

• Program Management: Lead and manage the day-to-day processes and functions of the RAI program, including documenting the end-to-end process from application to analysis completion, budget planning and tracking, progress reporting, and cycle management plans. 
• Proposal Feasibility: Oversee the assessment and feasibility of submitted proposals and applications, ensuring alignment with program goals and resource availability. 
• Strategic Planning: Establish annual goals for the RAI program and prepare an annual roadmap for leadership review; provide quarterly updates on progress against the roadmap. 
• Pipeline Reporting: Deliver monthly updates to leadership on the RAI program pipeline, including the status of active projects, upcoming submissions, and resource capacity. Include updates on registry presence at conferences and publications. 
• AJRR-C Alignment: Manage the relationship with AJRR-C, ensuring processes are aligned and resources are leveraged appropriately; provide monthly status updates on this partnership. 
• Resource Management: Oversee external resources and budgets to ensure RAI projects are completed within established operational constraints. 
• PI Support: Act as the subject matter expert and escalation point for Primary Investigators (PIs) with approved RAI projects. 
• Content Promotion: Collaborate with Business Lead, Registries, and Marketing Communications to incorporate RAI content into the broader Registry marketing plan through editorial strategies. 
• Expansion Planning: Develop scalable RAI expansion plans for the AAOS Program of Registries, including protocols for external sharing of PHI datasets when required. 
• Fellows Program Oversight: Supervise the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) Fellows Program, ensuring assigned projects and publications are completed on schedule. 

International Prosthesis Library (IPL) 

• Product Management: Lead and manage the IPL product, including oversight of the contract and relationship with the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries (ISAR). 
• Sustainability Planning: Develop and maintain a product plan and support task plans to ensure the IPL’s sustainability and data efficacy within budget constraints. 
• Vendor Oversight: Manage the technology vendor relationship, including establishing an annual roadmap, budget, and task plan for leadership review. 
• Performance Reporting: Provide quarterly updates to leadership on the IPL, including customer usage metrics, roadmap progress, vendor performance, and budget status. 
• ISAR Coordination: Support ISAR leadership in fulfilling AAOS’ contractual obligations by managing the IPL workgroup and ensuring clear documentation of assignments and timelines. 
• Industry Engagement: Maintain and grow industry relationships to ensure timely updates to the IPL and alignment with AAOS’ internal registry processes. 
• Grant Procurement & Management 
• Grant Oversight: Manage existing grants, including contracting, budget oversight, and project execution. 
• Opportunity Identification: Collaborate with registry program managers to identify and pursue new grant opportunities. 
• Reporting Cadence: Establish and maintain a monthly reporting schedule to update leadership on current grant initiatives and a pipeline of future opportunities. 
• Project Management: Serve as the primary project manager for grant projects, developing detailed capacity and project plans or proposals for additional resources as needed. 
• Strategic Engagement: Maintain key relationships, such as the Mayo P-30 sub-award grant, through engagement plans and recurring leadership updates on partnership status. 

 Sub-Committee Management 

• Staff Liaison Role: Serve as the primary staff liaison for designated sub-committees focused on research and publications, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and priorities. 
• Strategic Goal Setting: Collaborate with registry program managers to define sub-committee goals, develop workplans, and facilitate engagement with their respective Steering Committees, providing regular updates and progress reports. 
• Annual Research Planning: Partner with registry program managers and research analysts to develop and manage an annual research and publication plan for each registry, including timelines for abstract submissions and capacity projections; provide monthly leadership updates on progress. 
• Project Management: Create project scope documents, detailed project plans, and capacity plans for committee-initiated research projects. Deliver weekly status updates to program managers and registry leadership on research projects in progress, ensuring accountability and adherence to timelines. 
• Surgeon Engagement: Establish clear expectations, timelines, and deliverables with surgeon leaders, tracking progress against commitments and addressing barriers to ensure successful project execution. 

Registry Research Oversight 

• Trend Identification: Monitor emerging orthopedic trends and ensure that registry research aligns with current and future needs within the field of orthopedics. Facilitate the production of impactful research that informs practice and policy. 
• Research Life Cycle Development: Develop and implement a standardized research life cycle for all registries, creating a consistent framework for research planning, execution, and dissemination. Ensure alignment with organizational goals and provide support for registries to meet these expectations. 
• Research Portfolio Management: Work collaboratively with program managers and research analysts to maintain a balanced portfolio of research projects that address clinical priorities, stakeholder needs, and knowledge gaps. 

Data Management 

• Escalation Point: Serve as the primary escalation point for data-related questions, ensuring accurate and consistent reporting of registry outcomes. Empower registry team members to develop data expertise by fostering knowledge sharing and ownership of data-related issues. 
• Collaborative Consulting: Partner with data scientists, data integration specialists, and program managers to address specific questions regarding data specifications, updates, and roadmap development. 
• Dashboard Alignment: Provide input and guidance to program managers on Registry Insights dashboards, ensuring consistency and alignment in measures, metrics, and outcomes reporting. 

Exemplifies the following essential values of the Academy: 

• Teamwork: Effective collaboration and team-focus to solve complex problems and drive innovation. 
• Empowerment: The authority, information, and skills to make decisions and drive results. 
• Accountability: Ownership of process and results that drive decisions and ensure implementation. 
• Mindset of Growth/Continuous Learning:  Focused on and invested in self and staff development to become more adaptable, making the Academy more agile, innovative, and sustainable. 

 Travel: 

•  Up to 5 days per year 

Qualifications:

Required:  

Educational Background: 

• Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Epidemiology, Data Science, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, or a related field.  

Experience: 

• 7-10+ years of experience in healthcare research, data analytics, or registry management, preferably within the medical or orthopedic field. 
• Proven experience managing multi-stakeholder projects, including grant-funded research and vendor relationships. 
• Familiarity with medical registries, outcomes research, and quality improvement initiatives. 

Leadership and Project Management: 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs, including managing teams, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Expertise in strategic planning, goal-setting, and road mapping for long-term program success. 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple concurrent projects. 

Research Expertise: 

• Strong understanding of research methodologies, publication processes, and the research lifecycle, with the ability to drive impactful and timely research aligned with industry trends. 
• Knowledge of grant writing, procurement, and management processes. 

Data Science and Analytics: 

• Proficiency in data management principles, data analysis, and visualization tools (e.g., SAS, SQL, Python, R, Tableau, or similar). 
• Experience working with data scientists and integration specialists to address data specifications and develop dashboards or reports. 
• Ability to oversee and provide input on data roadmaps and outcomes reporting. 

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work with diverse stakeholders, including surgeons, researchers, industry partners, and internal teams. 
• Experience serving as a liaison for committees or workgroups, ensuring alignment of objectives and priorities.  

Additional Knowledge: 

• Familiarity with orthopedic trends, measures, and metrics. 
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations and data-sharing practices, including PHI and HIPAA compliance. 
• Knowledge of HIPAA, PHI, IRB, and other relevant regulatory issues.  

Desired:  

• Experience managing work in SalesForce or other Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Association Management Systems (AMS) 
• Background in working with individuals/groups that require significant support through decision-making processes. 

Salary Range: $130,000-$140,000

Join us in shaping AAOS’ success! If this resonates with you, apply today by sharing the following:

-Clearly communicate why you are the ideal candidate for this role, providing specific examples and experiences as proof points.

-Resumes must be accompanied by a cover letter with salary expectations to be considered. 

Please note: 

This hybrid position is based in Rosemont, Illinois and is open to applicants who are able to commute weekly to this office.

Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of work visas.